Service station for ink-jet printer

A service station (10) for use in an ink-jet printer, the printer including a bi-directionally movable carriage (22) supporting in secured alignment a print cartridge (20) having a printhead (18) for printing onto a print medium, the carriage being driven by a controlled motor, the service station being fixed at one end of travel of the print carriage and comprising:

• (a) pump means (12) for priming the printhead;
• (b) a sled (14) to actuate the service station and having means (50) to seal the printhead;
• (c) wiping means (58) for clearing the printhead;
• (d) said sled including cap means (50) for sealing the printhead nozzles;
• (e) said cap means being maintained on a cap chamber (38) supported on said sled to which said pump means is operatively connected;
• and
• (f) said wiping means being mounted on a wiper bracket (16) and being adapted to wipe debris from said printhead during movement of the carraige into the service station.

A service station for use in a printer having a carriage to support a cartridge, the cartridge including a printhead having nozzles for diffusing ink, the service station comprising:

• (a) means for wiping residues off of the printhead;
• (b) said wiping means being fixed at one end of travel of the carriage;
• (c) sled means connected to said wiping means for capping the printhead by surrounding the printhead nozzles;
• (d) said sled means being actuated by the carriage when the carraige moves to its end of travel position;
• and
• (e) pump means connected to said sled means for priming the printhead.

A method for using a service station in a printer having a carriage supporting a cartridge, the cartridge including a printhead having nozzles for diffusing ink, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) wiping residues off of the printhead;
• (b) fixing said wiping means at one end of travel of the carriage;
• (c) connecting sled means to wiping means for capping the printhead by surrounding the printhead nozzles;
• (d) actuating said sled means by the carriage when the carriage moves to its end of travel position;
• and
• (e) connecting pump means to said sled means for priming the printhead.